Gloria Perez is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM), where she leads the first statewide women’s foundation in the country. Since 1983, WFM has distributed more than $72 million through community investments; conducts ongoing research on the status of women and girls in Minnesota; advocates for public policy that results in greater economic security and safety for women and their families; and invests in organizations and leaders to build the field and achieve gender and racial justice.  
  
Gloria became one of the country’s leading experts in two-generation strategies to reducing poverty as President & CEO of Jeremiah Program, a national nonprofit whose proven, holistic approach transforms families from poverty to prosperity two generations at a time. Gloria has more than 30 years of experience across sectors, ranging from small business, for-profit corporations to nonprofit human service organizations. As an Ascend Fellow at the Aspen Institute, Gloria has worked with national leaders to drive innovative ideas and proven strategies to help families achieve educational success and economic security. She serves on the board of directors for the Ciresi Walburn Foundation, Esperanza United, Macalester College, and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.